How Long To Cook Bay Scallops In Oven At 350 Degrees?

A tiny bay scallop can drive your taste buds insane with its sweetness and flavor richness. It is a dish that is always present in every festive celebrations. There are many ways to cook bay scallops. But my favorite is using the oven. The optimal temperature to use is 350 degree Fahrenheit. Now the question is this. How long to cook bay scallops in oven at 350 degrees? In this guide, we like to provide the answer as well as some tips to help you pull off this dish like a pro cook.

How long to cook bay scallops in oven at 350?

It takes 25 minutes to cook bay scallops in the oven at 350 degree Fahrenheit. This ensures they get opaque on the exterior while being firm and tender on the inside. Keep in mind that bay scallops are easy to overcook given their small size. That’s why you have to keep a watchful eye on the clock and remove them from the oven on time. You don’t want to under-cook them either as they will still be raw. When scallops are raw, their sweetness is a bit better pronounced, so it’s actually considered a delicacy. But if you agree on this culinary adventure, please embrace the risks it comes with as well. Low-quality scallops can have unfriendly parasites that stay alive when the seafood is raw or half-cooked. To be safe, stay on the cooked side.

What are other temperatures to bake bay scallops in the oven?

Bay scallops are baked in the temperature range of 300 to 400 degrees. Baking bay scallops in the oven at 400 degrees will be fast and takes 20 minutes. Baking this seafood at 300 degrees is practiced by some people but it’s not that popular as other higher temperatures. For one, you have to wait the longest for the scallops to get ready as baking at 300 degrees takes 30 to 35 minutes. In addition, this cooking regime doesn’t render the bay scallops crispy but rather soft and brittle.

Which is the best temperature to grill the bay scallops in the oven?

Both 350 and 400 are optimal temperatures for grilling bay scallops. It all depends on personal culinary preferences which of them to choose. At 400 degrees, the scallops get a bit crunchier and browner. Also this temperature is your go-to if your time for cooking is limited. We prefer to bake bay scallops at 400 degrees and the result is always crispy, tender and outrageously delicious.

How to cook bay scallops in the oven?

Here’s the recipe for cooking bay scallops in the oven.

1. For bay scallops, it’s best to use a broiling-proof casserole dish. Pour melted butter in it. Use your hands or a pastry brush to spread the butter evenly on the dish. You don’t want a scallop to be greasier than its neighbor. Next, rinse the scallops, pat dry them and place them on the dish.
2. Here we are with a game-changing element of the dish – the topping. It is going to considerably enhance the taste of the scallops, so never skip this step. Mix bread crumbs, paprika powder, minced garlic, parsley and parmesan in a bowl. Apply the mixture on top of the scallops.
3. Place the dish with flavorful scallops in the oven and let them bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. If you want the scallops to get even crispier and browner, bake them for 15 minutes, then broil them for another 3 minutes. Remove the dish from the oven and serve with pilaf and vegetables.

Tips to speed up the process

Bay scallop is a small and delicate seafood so it cooks pretty fast. If you still want to speed up its cooking, expose it to the oven broil after 15 minutes of baking. It will cut down the cooking time by 2-4 minutes. A whole broiling session is not recommended as it will make the scallops dry, chewy and tough. The topping will turn dark and lose its rich flavors.

What to serve with scallops?

Having rice and vegetables on the side of baked scallops is a blessing for any gourmand. We doubt anyone would question the perfect combination of rice, seafood and veggies. You can serve them either separately or make a single dish from them. Aside from these classics, there are other side dishes that pair up great with baked bay scallops.

Mango avocado salsa is a perfect addition to scallops. It’s refreshing, consistent and flavorful and complements the delicate scallops in a unique way. You can also go for pasta in your effort to make scallops better. Topped with a fancy sauce, like lemon caper, it brightens up the taste of the baked seafood. Please avoid tomato sauce as it can suppress the scallop’s flavor and take the center stage on the table, which you don’t want to happen during a seafood-based dinner.